Buyer’s Guide: The Best City Bikes of 2012

When Joe Breeze isn't making high-performance­ mountain bikes, he's thinking of new ways to scale up what he's done in his own life—replaced his car with a commuter bike. The Uptown EX can help you do the same. Like all Breezer townies, it offers a lot of utility: Fenders and a chain guard protect you from the elements, a bell helps keep you safe, and a rack holds your stuff. The aluminum frame resists rust, and you get a kickstand because, as Breeze says, cars don't fall over when parked. The EX comes in both step-over and low-step frames, and it's the most affordable bike in the line. We were impressed by the classic blue-and-white paint scheme with matching saddle, grips, and fenders.

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Charge Mixer - $1,300

Charge, based in the U.K., recently began exporting bikes to America, and this city bike is a prime example of the brand’s irreverent ethos. The 700c-wheel Mixer lives up to its name with its combination of road and off-road traits. For instance: It comes with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with the rear caliper thoughtfully mounted inboard to create clearance for the included custom fenders. It also specs a Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal-gear hub, which provides a completely derailleur-free, 400-plus-percent gearing range. The 3.5-pound hub, which uses a durable, oil-bath design rather than greased internals, contributes significantly to the bike’s sub 28-pound weight (including alloy Wellgo pedals). But even though the geometry of its lively Tange double-butted chromoly frame tilts toward a more aggressive road-bike posture, this is, ultimately, an urban cruiser.

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Civia Cycles Twin City Step-Through - $850

This elegant city cruiser is completely focused on getting its rider around town with minimal fuss and maximum style. The Step-Through’s low-sweeping double top tube and laid-back handlebar make getting on and off a cinch—even if you’re riding in a summer dress and sandals. (Guys, don’t worry, Civia also makes a Step-Over model.) While it has an undeniably cool retro-chic aesthetic, the steel frame also serves to help dampen road chatter, as do the cushiony 700x35mm tires. The integrated rear rack adds to the bike’s good looks and makes hauling groceries or humping small packages to the post office easy. While this frame is also available as a singlespeed for $200 less, the clandestine (not to mention bombproof) internally geared Shimano seven-speed hub will pay for itself after the first few hills, and could reduce your maintenance time.

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Electra Townie Balloon 8i - $1,000

At first glance the Balloon 8i looks like it rolled right out of the 1950s, but it’s no throwback. The retro-looking whitewall tires and leather-brown trim hide a lightweight aluminum chassis stretched to fit Electra’s trademark “Flat Foot” frame philosophy, which puts the rider in an upright yet laid-back pedaling position, always within easy reach of the ground. Even though it’s not nearly as heavy as it looks and has eight gears to work with, this city bike is best suited for bike paths and the coffee shop circuit rather than outings with drastic elevation changes. Keep it in its element and the ample saddle and high-volume 26-inch tires promise a sublime ride. Beyond the Balloon 8i’s namesake tires needing an occasional air-up, the bike is almost immune from mechanical issues—the Shimano Nexus hub and dual roller-cam drum brakes are virtually maintenance-free.

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Giant Via 3 - $410

This sharp-looking bike’s butted chromoly steel frame delivers a lively ride paired with an upright, comfortable riding position. It also comes with a refreshing array of handy accessories—fenders, kickstand, chainguard—that many city bikes in this price range would leave riders to purchase à la carte. Take the money you otherwise would have spent on those accessories and buy a U-lock to store in the Via’s lock bracket, which is sandwiched between the twin top tubes and secured through a built-in tab on the seat tube. This is the sort of thoughtful feature one would expect from a bespoke boutique bike, not necessarily an entry-level urban runabout from a large manufacturer. Sensible details on this simple singlespeed, such as a color-matched chainguard and bolt-on (not theft-prone quick-release) 700c wheels, make the Via 3 a smart option for any city dweller.

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Kona MinUte - $1,000

The all-new MinUte (a 2/3-size version of Kona’s full-sized “Ute” cargo model) is the short-bed pickup truck of the bicycle world. With its long-wheelbase frame, sturdy integrated platform, and comfortable upright positioning, it was born to haul groceries, kids, filing cabinets—you name it. Key features such as a lightweight 7000-series aluminum chassis and wide-range 2x8 drivetrain help conquer climbs even when fully loaded, and dual mechanical disc brakes keep speed in check coming back down the other side. It’s hard to tell what’s more remarkable: that, for a cool grand, the MinUte has a carrying capacity of 300 pounds, or the full complement of included accessories, including fenders; an Acacia wood deck; two durable, weatherproof soft panniers; a center-stand; even a bell. Kona even covers the frame with a lifetime warranty. So go ahead—embrace your inner trucker.

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Raleigh Port Townsend - $900

The Port Townsend is named for a small harbor city on Puget Sound in Washington state, where Raleigh’s U.S. office is located. This city bike’s styling is a clear nod toward the brand’s proper British heritage—complete with ’70s brown and orange trim and an overall aesthetic that conjures a tweed sport coat. Shimano Dura-Ace nine-speed bar-end shifters make operating the Shimano Sora drivetrain a downright civilized affair, and powerful cantilever brakes work well with the custom fenders and capable front platform rack. The bike’s custom, faux-quill chromoly stem puts the rider in a comfortable, upright riding position, while still retaining the easy adjustment properties of a threadless headset system. The bike promises a compliant ride, too, with Reynolds butted chromoly tubing and Vittoria Randonneur 700x35c tires.

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Specialized Globe Daily 1 - $550

The Daily 1 is bereft of any big-brand or model decals, making for an understated, almost anonymous look. But while the full fenders, basket, and a silver stem-mounted bell suggest a somewhat subdued city bike, the Daily 1’s commuter regalia belies an inner need for speed. The long-wearing Specialized (Globe’s parent company) Infinity 700x28c tires help get this lightweight aluminum bike up to speed in a snap, and a low-set swept-back mustache bar puts the rider in a comfortable yet capable riding position. Caliper brakes and matching silver levers, meanwhile, help effectively control speed on descents. The bike can easily be converted into a fixed gear via its high-flange, flip-flop rear hub, but a fixie setup might not jibe so well with the open front basket, which sports a smart U-lock holster and is just big enough for a grocery bag. Or, say, a joyriding chihuahua.

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Spot Ajax Belt - $1,700

Some companies take cues from yesterday’s classics when it comes to creating bikes for today’s urban commuters. Spot Brand is not one of those. This belt-drive bike features a custom carbon fork (complete with novel direct-mount disc-brake tabs) and a butted 7000-series aluminum frame that marries zippy road-bike geometry with a heads-up urban-bike position that helps you keep an eye on traffic. Thanks to its eight-speed Shimano Alfine rear hub, the Ajax is capable of stomping hill climbs, and its dual cable-pull disc brakes help keep speed in check on the downhills. Key selling points include 3M reflective striping on the WTB 700x32c tires and braze-ons for mounting fenders, racks, and bottle cages. One thing this city bike doesn’t come with is a chainguard, but nor does it come with a chain—its Center-Track belt drive is oil-, noise-, and worry-free.

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Torker Graduate - $600

This city bike could have easily been called the undergraduate, because any hapless teenager automatically qualifies as a responsible owner. With no delicate external components to damage, this steel commuter can be shoved remorselessly into tightly packed bike racks, or left outside. The Sturmey-Archer five-speed internal-gear hub and dual 70mm drum brakes promise implacable performance in rain, snow, or sunshine. And thanks to 36-spoke wheels shod with long-wearing 700x32c tires, this bike will take on curbs, potholes, and all manner of urban obstacles with stoic composure. But it isn’t all brute—total weight is just under 30 pounds. The bike gets a nicely refined cockpit setup with Avid Speed Dial brake levers and a slick alloy thumb shifter. Throw in fenders, a chainguard (not pictured), and a full bevy of braze-ons and this bike is worth every cent of its price tag.

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Wabi Special - $895

Wabi flies under the radar: The L.A.-based brand doesn’t sell through bike shops, and its handmade steel frames bear no brand markings. The Special frameset is hand-brazed and lugged in Taiwan from Reynolds 725 chromoly tubing and forged, horizontal dropouts. The end product thoughtfully combines old-world aspects like investment-cast lugs with contemporary amenities such as a 1 1/8-inch head tube and threadless fork. While lugged steel may no longer be synonymous with modern-day high performance, the Special sports unapologetic race geometry that manifests in a comfortable yet lively ride that begs for speed. Complete bikes weigh about 19 pounds, depending on the buyer’s choice of build kit. The Special comes with a fixed-gear track cog, but a freewheel can be added to the flip-flop hub. Other custom options include saddle, stem, bar, and frame finish.

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